Las Vegas Feature

Bowling in Vegas will give you a new appreciation for the sport most of us associate with bad haircuts and ugly shoes. You'll find elements of casinos, bars, and nightclubs here; with lively crowds to match. Locals take their leagues seriously, so spare yourself some heartache and call ahead to make a lane reservation.

The Orleans Bowling Center. The Orleans Resort and Casino is in a working-class neighborhood just off the Strip, and its 70-lane bowling center is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. 4500 W. Tropicana Rd., West Side, Las Vegas, NV, 89103. 702/365-7400. www.orleanscasino.com. 24/7.

Red Rock Lanes. This 72-lane bowling alley has all the amenities, including Cosmic Bowling—glow-in-the-dark bowling with a deejay—until 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights. Roll on through until morning—it's open 24 hours a day. If you've got the bankroll, you can live the full nightclub-plus-bowling dream with bottle service at your own VIP Lanes. Red Rock Casino Resort Spa, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV, 89135. 702/797-7467 or 866/767-7773. www.redrocklanes.com. Mon.-Thurs., 8 am-2 am; Fri.-Sun., 24 hrs.

Sam's Town Bowling Center. This is a 56-lane locals' alley where leagues and tournaments are taken seriously. Tourists come for the cocktail lounge, connecting casino, and "Xtreme Bowling Experience" starting at 9 pm on Friday and Saturday nights that will allow you to "strike out" in a night club like never before. 5111 Boulder Hwy., Boulder Strip, Las Vegas, NV, 89122. 702/456-7777 or 800/897-8696. www.samstownlv.com. 24/7.

Santa Fe Station Bowling Center. This 60-lane facility at Santa Fe Station Casino is a traditional bowling center, with video arcade, bar, and the top-of-the-line Brunswick electronic scoring system. Cosmic bowling is held every Saturday from 7-11 pm. 4949 N. Rancho Dr., West Side, Las Vegas, NV, 89130. 702/658-4988. www.stationcasinoslanes.com. Sun.-Thurs., 8 am-midnight; Fri.-Sat., 8 am-1 am.

Silver Nugget Bowling. This alley has 24 lanes and new equipment, a pro shop, and a modern automatic scoring system. Its version of Cosmic Bowling, which includes fancy lights and a booming sound system, goes 7 pm-midnight on Friday and Saturday. Weekday rates are $1 per person per game; on weekend days you can rent lanes by the hour, instead of paying per person per game. 2140 Las Vegas Blvd. N, North Side, Las Vegas, NV, 89030. 702/399-1111. www.silvernuggetcasino.net. Sun.-Thurs. 9 am-10 pm, Fri.& Sat. 9 am-midnight.

Suncoast Bowling Center. Reflecting its upscale Summerlin neighborhood, the bowling center at the Suncoast, with 64 lanes, is designed to provide every high-tech toy for bowlers. The alley has Cosmic Bowling on Saturdays and hosts a number of different leagues throughout the week. 9090 Alta Dr., Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV, 89145. 702/636-7111 or 877/677-7111. www.suncoastcasino.com. Sun.-Thur., 8 am-2am; Fri.-Sat, 24 hrs.

Terrible's Town Bowling. It's a boutique alley with just 16 lanes, but Terrible's has all the amenities of a larger facility including 24/7 play and casino. They even offer gutter bumpers for kids (or adults with a fragile sense of self-worth). On most nights, Terrible's offers a raffle or some other sort of gambling promotion. The property also offers special midweek package deals that include two games, shoe rental and a hot dog for less than $10. 642 S. Boulder Hwy., Henderson, Henderson, NV, 89015. 702/564-7118. www.terribleshenderson.com. 24/7.